The Spaniard slows his frantic pace
In pain and desperation
His aching limbs and downcast face
Aglow with perspiration

Stiff as wire, his lungs on fire
With just the briefest pause
Then flooding through his memory
The echoes of old applause

The Spaniard stares with glassy eyes
Defies the double fault
His eyes are white, his face is lined
And streaked with tears of rage

5 years years ago, how the shots would flow
With passion and precision
But now his mind is dark and dulled
By sickness and indecision

And he stares out Arthur Ashe's stadium door
Where the sun will rise no more...

Some are born to move the world
To live their fantasies
But most of us just dream about
The things we'd like to be
Sadder still to watch it die
Than never to have known it
For you, the troll who once could see
The bell tolls for thee...

The Spaniard slows his frantic pace
In pain and desperation
His aching limbs and downcast face
Aglow with perspiration

Stiff as wire, his lungs on fire
With just the briefest pause
Then flooding through his memory
The echoes of old applause

The Spaniard stares with glassy eyes
Defies the double fault
His eyes are white, his face is lined
And streaked with tears of rage

5 years years ago, how the shots would flow
With passion and precision
But now his mind is dark and dulled
By sickness and indecision

And he stares out Arthur Ashe's stadium door
Where the sun will rise no more...

Some are born to move the world
To live their fantasies
But most of us just dream about
The things we'd like to be
Sadder still to watch it die
Than never to have known it
For you, the troll who once could see
The bell tolls for thee...

I'm laughing at those who claim Rafa is in decline. The guy hasn't lost before a final since Indian Wells, and he won two events since then, and people say he's on decline. I fully expect another Rafa victory in the semis and this time he beats Djoker in the final, on slow clay this time. Rafa did lose a bit of confidence but unlike Murray and even Fed Rafa can pick up his level quickly and dominate like before. I'm willing to put money that Rafa wins this RG, and the final won't even be very tough for him.

I'm laughing at those who claim Rafa is in decline. The guy hasn't lost before a final since Indian Wells, and he won two events since then, and people say he's on decline. I fully expect another Rafa victory in the semis and this time he beats Djoker in the final, on slow clay this time. Rafa did lose a bit of confidence but unlike Murray and even Fed Rafa can pick up his level quickly and dominate like before. I'm willing to put money that Rafa wins this RG, and the final won't even be very tough for him.

And Joy is Everywhere;
It is in the Earth's green covering of grass;
In the blue serenity of the Sky;
In the reckless exuberance of Spring;
In the severe abstinence of gray Winter;
In the Living flesh that animates our bodily frame;
In the perfect poise of the Human figure, noble and upright;
In Living;
In the exercise of all our powers;
In the acquisition of Knowledge;
In the decline of the nadal;
in fighting evils...
Joy is there Everywhere.

And Joy is Everywhere;
It is in the Earth's green covering of grass;
In the blue serenity of the Sky;
In the reckless exuberance of Spring;
In the severe abstinence of gray Winter;
In the Living flesh that animates our bodily frame;
In the perfect poise of the Human figure, noble and upright;
In Living;
In the exercise of all our powers;
In the acquisition of Knowledge;
In the decline of the nadal;
in fighting evils...
Joy is there Everywhere.

Lol you guys are mean. He had a FAR, FAR worse second half of 2009. He's having the second best year on tour. Relax. No one is on Novak's level right now. It's like Roger said. "I've created a monster". People are SO used to Nadal not even losing SETS on clay, that threads like this get started when he goes 3 sets. It's a little dumb.

Lol you guys are mean. He had a FAR, FAR worse second half of 2009. He's having the second best year on tour. Relax. No one is on Novak's level right now. It's like Roger said. "I've created a monster". People are SO used to Nadal not even losing SETS on clay, that threads like this get started when he goes 3 sets. It's a little dumb.

Click to expand...

People also seem to be completely oblivious to the fact that Rafa just lost a close friend.
He was a star, but he was still a friend. I'm not sure how I would behave if there was a moment of silence for a friend of mine in a stadium just before I had to defend my title in a semi-final.

The Spaniard slows his frantic pace
In pain and desperation
His aching limbs and downcast face
Aglow with perspiration

Stiff as wire, his lungs on fire
With just the briefest pause
Then flooding through his memory
The echoes of old applause

The Spaniard stares with glassy eyes
Defies the double fault
His eyes are white, his face is lined
And streaked with tears of rage

5 years years ago, how the shots would flow
With passion and precision
But now his mind is dark and dulled
By sickness and indecision

And he stares out Arthur Ashe's stadium door
Where the sun will rise no more...

Some are born to move the world
To live their fantasies
But most of us just dream about
The things we'd like to be
Sadder still to watch it die
Than never to have known it
For you, the troll who once could see
The bell tolls for thee...

Goodbye Rafa

Click to expand...

I read this with Claire De lune playing in the background, it made it more beautiful lol